Harness.



No. 733,887. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

, S. WAY-,

HARNESS. APPLICATION FILED. JUliE 20' 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

SIMEON WVAY, OF KALKASKA, MICHIGAN.

HARNESS.

- SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 733,887, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed June 20, 1902. Serial No. 112,489. No mod l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMEON WAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalkaska, in the county of Kalkaska and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harness, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to harness 5 and the object thereof is to produce a yokewhereby it may be possible to center the draft when using a two-horse or larger team, and'also onethat is cheap, durable, and efficient.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the nature of the same is more fully understood from the following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a yoke constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the yoke members. Fig. 3 is a similar View of one of the draft-bars. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the means for securing the connecting rods to the yoke members. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of one end of one of the connecting-rods.

1 and2 designate the inner and outerhames, respectively, which are preferably constructed of tubular metal to render them light Without sacrificing any of their strength. The hames have their extremities reduced and provided with perforations through which pass fastening means to connect the same to links 3.

The links 3 are substantially alike and com- I prise flat bearing portions 4, having laterally projecting therefrom vertically-disposed arms 5, adapted to receive therebetween the reduced portions of the hames, and they are provided with a plurality of alining perforations 6, through which pass bolts 7 or other suitable connecting means to secure the links and hames in applied position. The bolts connecting the upper ends of the hames l to the links 3 are of a character easily and quickly removable to permit of the hames beingtnrned upon the bolts connecting their lower ends to the links to permit of the application of the yoke to the collars. The provision of the arms 5 with a plurality of perforations permits of the hames being adjusted toward and from each'other to reduce and increase the size of the yoke members to accommodate for collars of varying size. The hames 1 and 2 and the links 3 form the yoke members.

7 designates connecting-rods preferably constructed of tubular metal for the purpose hereinbefore pointed out, and they are attached at their centers by means of a bolt 8. The rods are slightly and reversely curved intermediate their ends to place their extremities in a horizontal'plane, the said extremities being provided with longitudinallyarranged elongated slots 9, through which project bolts 10, carried by the bearing-plates 4 of the links 3, to connect the yoke members, whereby they may have pivotal and limited lateral movements, rendering them capable of following the movements of the horses necks.

The bolts 10 are secured to the bearingplates to have their threaded ends extend therefrom, and the heads thereof are recessed therein to obviate any liability of their injuring the collars. The bolts 10 have mounted thereon sleeves 11, which fit within the slots 9 and are of a length a little greater than the width of the extremities of the rods 7 to place the outer ends thereof beyond the adjacent surfaces of the connecting-rods to limit the inward movement of Washers 12, which are secured in position through the medium of nuts 13. The spacing of the washers upon the bolts keeps them out of contact with the adjacent surfaces of the connecting-bars, thereby giving to the yoke members a freedom of movement.

14 designates draft-bars, preferably constructed of metal tubing, for the purpose hereinbefore pointed out, and they have their lower ends reduced and are also reduced at points adjacent their upper ends. The reduced portions are provided with perforations through which pass the ends of U shaped clamps 15, adapted to embrace the connecting-rods to secure the draft-bars thereto, whereby said bars are prevented rom having any relative movements. The

draft-chains 18, having their outer ends connected by a bar 19, having attached thereto a draft-hook 20, which may be attached to the draft appliance.

The hames 1 and the draft-bars carry upon their upper ends rein-terrets 21.

It is obvious from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I provide a neck-yoke in the utilization of which the necessity of traces is obviated, as the draft-hook may be directly secured to the tongue or other draft appliance, which may be connected to the center of the vehicle, and also that the draft is centralized.

By crossing the rods 7 and pivoting them together on bolt 8 the ends thereof can be swung toward or away from each other toadjust them to hames of diiferent sizes. This adjustment is secured by moving the draftbars from or toward the pivot-bolt 8 and then securing them immovably upon the rods by means of the clamps 15.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to constructing the hames, connecting-bars, and draft-bars of tubular metal, as it may be found advantageous to make them solid, as of bar-iron.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with connecting-rods pivotally connected at their centers; of hames pivotally mounted between the ends of the rods, and draft-bars adj ustably secured to the rods.

2. The combination with connecting-rods pivoted together and having slotted ends; of hames between the ends of the rods, adjustable links connecting the ends of the hames, and pivotal projections upon the links and slidably mounted in the slots.

3. The combination with connecting-rods pivoted together and having slotted ends; of hames between said ends,,links adjustably connecting the ends of the hames, pivotal projections upon the links and slidably mounted in the slots, draft-bars, and clamps upon the bars and engaging the connectingrods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIMEON WAY. 

